Fire-escape



3 Sheets-Shet 1. I'. JOHNSON.

PIRE ESCAPE.

(No Model.)

Patented Feb. 20,1894.`

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2. F. JOHNSON.

PIRE ESCAPE.

(No Modell) vPadsenijedI'eb. 20, 1894.

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F. JOIINSON. y

` A PIRE ESCAPE'. No. 514,997. Patented Feb. 20, 1894.

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UNITED STATES .PATENT FFICE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,997, dated February 20, 1894.

' Application met March 1s, 189s. serial 110.466,625. v (remodel.)

Be it known that I, FERDINAND JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in New London township, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following t0 be a sufficiently full, clear, and exact description thereof as to enable others skilled in the'art to make and use the said invention.

This invention relates to re escapes and has for its object the better security of such structure, the reduction of cost in making, and greater facilities of erection by persons of limited skill in the mechanic arts by making the same from interchangeably fitted parts so prepared at the place of man ufacture, as by selecting and assembling the pieces in different arrangements or order, the fire es-v capes are readily adapted to buildings of different heights of stories.

The construction and application of this vinvention is hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, shows a front elevation-of a portion of a building with this invention applied thereto, shown as with the upper portion of the front casing removed; Fig. 2, a side elevation in section of av building with this invention applied shown with a part of the side casing removed; Fig. 3, a plan view; Fig. 4,

attaching `the casing. of a combined diagonal brace for the caslng,

a plan view of a coupling for the uprights or pillars of the fire escape, Fig. 5, a side view thereof with a step supporting bracket, and

step attached thereto; Fig. 6, a dowel for fa- ,cilitating the alignment of the sections of supporting columns; Fig. 7, an enlarged plan `view of a step. Fig. 8, shows an enlarged front View of same. Fig. 9, shows a plate of wrought metal as cutout preliminary to forming into a step. Figs. 10,11, and 12, show the step brackets with modified means of attaching them to the clamps in the supporting columns. Fig. 13, shows the section of the channel iron used for bracing or stiffening and Fig. 14, shows a plan and support for handrail. Fig. 15, shows an elevation thereof. Fig. 16, shows a door for v., entering the fire escape from the balconies Vand the construction of conical braces, hinges and latch therefor.

for the columns; Fig, 18, an eye bolt with `washers and nut for attaching the columns to the wall of4 the building; Fig. 19, a modified form ofeye bolt; Fig. 20, another modified form of eye bolt adapted for use on wooden buildings. Fig. 2,1, shows a plan view of a case in which sectional columns are used in the front corners'of the Vinclosing case. Fig. 22, shows aplan view of a case in which chan- Fig. 17, shows in vertical f ,section, a bottom step or foundation block nel bars'are applied vertically to the case at `the angles to stiften and support it. Fig. 23,

shows an` enlarged elevation of a part of the vertical channel bars illustrating the mode of uniting the sections ofv channel bars to each e other. Fig. 24, shows the enlarged view of a plate for bracingy the sectional columns in pairs and furnishing eyes for the attachment of the case fastenings and door hinges and door fastenings.' Fig. 25 shows a perspective elevation of a portion of a lire escape embodying this invention with the casing ofthe upper part removed so as to exhibit the construction of the ladder or steps and supports.

1, represents a pier in the wall of thebuilding between ytwo vertical lines of windows, 2, or windows and door in the wall of the'building.

3, is a balcony extending across the pier 1, and in front of the window 2, in the third story, and is provided with a guard rail 4, and is of such width'as to permit a door, the location of which is indicated in dotted lines 5, in Fig. 1, to open outwardly on the balcony 3, and permit ingress to the iire escape casing 6.

7, V7, are narrower balconies in front of the windows 2, 2, of the second story, provided with guard rails 8, 8, and permit ingress through doors 9, 9, through the side of the casing 6, from the balcony 7, 7, to the fire escape. The doors 9, 9, are preferably hinged on the side toward the wall or pier 1, so as to prevent any flames and smoke issuing from the windows 2, 2, from entering the casing and .endangering persons on the tireV escape.

10, 10, are tubular sections of columns made in lengths of multiples of the height between the steps 11, 11.

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ends of the columns rest, and are of sufficient breadth at the bottom 13 to prevent sinking in the earth, and havea socket 14, to receive the lower end of the column lO, and an aperture 15, leading outwardly at the side for the escape of water.

When applied to buildings having a projecting terrace or first story as in houses having stores with projecting windows the support may be made to rest on the terrace or cornice 6 6, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and instead ot' the inclosed steps in the first story a ladder 67 to he lowered may be provided to reach the ground.

16, are dowel pins, tapered at both extremities so as to easily enter the contiguous ends of the two columns 10, 10, and hold them in line, and provided with a small collar or fiauge 17, of less diameter than the outer diameter of the columns 10, formed at mid length on them, which serves to prevent the dowcl 16 from fallinginto the lower section of columns in case of fitting looselytherein before being clamped as hereinafter described.

18, is a clamp formed of two principal parts, 19 and 20, which engage by hook shaped grooves and tongues 21 and 22, in each other, and inclose a cylindric groove 23, which fits upon one side of the column 10 and parallel therewith and eccentric thereto, and the cylindric grooves 24 of greater radius, in which are fitted two eccentric wedges 25, which being forced apart by a tapering key 26, clamp the column 10 in the clamp 18. The wedges 25 may be forced apart by a taper pointed set-screw 27, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, instead of the key 26. When the key 26 is used, the thick edges of the wedges and of the key which move against each other in driving the key should be helical in the form of their surfaces that is to say in the form generated by a radial line progressing both angularly and in the direction of its axis like the side of the thread of a quick pitched screw, the key may be grooved and the wedges rounded on the edge opposed to the key.

On the side of the clamp 18 there is formed an eye 271, into which the vertical end 28 of a brace 29 is inserted; the brace 29 is secured by a screw 30 to the inside of the casing 6, which it braces diagonally and thus holds it against the wall or pier l, and beyond the screw 30, it is bent inwardly and terminates in a socket or ring 31, through which a handrail 32 passes vertically.

On the side of the clamp 1S there is formed a projection 33 of a form adapted to lock in an aperture 34, or hook 35 on the step bracket 36. The step bracket 36 is provided with a brace 37 having a lower forked end 3S adapted to rest against the front of the columns 10 aud braced to the hook portion 35 or 34 by a brace 39. With each pair of the brackets is formed a step 11, from which the steps 40 depend; of these steps 40, there may be any desired number, say from one to six, so that by using brackets with different numbers of steps, any

desired height between clamps 18, and brackets 36, can be obtained to suit the different heights of stories.

The steps 11 may be formed by casting them integrally with the brackets 36, of ductile metal such as malleable cast iron, but are preferably made ot' ductile metal such as wrought iron or steel.

Fig. 9, shows a plate of wrought metal cut to make a step, tongues 41 are cut in it, which being bent as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, are interlocked or hooked into the ends of the parts 42, which are bent upwardly and curled at the ends 43, so as to interlock with the curled tongues 41 of the step above. The tread portion 44 of the step is bent convexly upward, and has preferably a number of openings or slits 45, in it which renders it less slippery to the feet.

The steps 11 should be far enough from the wall or pier 1, to permit the toes and ball of the foot to pass over the edge of the step to ward the building, and allow the weight of the climber to rest upon the sole, or heel and sole of the foot.

The columns 10 are attached to the front of the pier 1, by passing through eye bolt 46 as shown in Figs. 2, and 18, this form being Well adapted for brick buildings already erected, another form 50 shown in Fig. 19 in which the plate 5l is slitted at the rear end, and the ends bent upwardly and downwardly at right angles, can be used in brick buildings in course of erection; this form is cheaper than the eye bolt shown in Fig. 18, and avoids the labor of drilling the wall. For attachment to wooden buildings an eye headed wood screw 53, shown in Fig. 20 may be used.

The entire structure as described is inclosed in a casing of sheet metal 6, which is stiftened by horiz wntal channel iron bars 54, screwed or riveted to the plates of iron. Cor rugated iron plates with the lines of corrugation in vertical position, are preferable on account of their superior stiffness and lightness, but [iat plates may be used. Doors are provided at the level ot' each balcony opening outward upon the verandas or balconies 3 and 7 in the upper stories, and to the ground in the lower stories. These doors are braced by bars of channel iron 56, secured by screws or rivets at the upper and lower parts, one end of each bar 56 being fiattened and formed into a hinge 57, and an intermediate bar 58, also of channel iron, is formed with a hinge at one end and a latch 59 at the other end, which latch engages a keeper or catch 69.

The casing shown in plan View in Fig. 22 is formed of flat or plain sheet metal and is stiffened at the corners with vertical channel bars 61, fastened by rivets thereto and which are made in sections united as shown in Fig. 23 by a splice piece or bar 52 fitted in the channels near the contiguous ends of sections and secured by screws or rivets 63. To each splice piece there is attached a hook 64 which fitting in an eye 65 supports the case 6.

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The latch on the upper doors are placed on the outside of the doors, while that of the lower or ground ioor door is on the inside, and this may be supplemented with a fastening, so controlled as to prevent egress of thieves and dishonest guests With their baggage.

Sectional columns 10, 10, may be used in the front angles of the casing as Well as in the rear as shown in Fig. 2l, and all of the columns may be braced to each other by link plates 68 shown in Fig. 24 having apertures A 69 through Which the columns 10 pass and resting on the clamp 18 brace the columns 10 to each other at proper distances.

The ends 70 of the link plates 68 having apertures 71, in them project through the casing 6 and furnish pivotal supports for door hinges and the means of holding the doors closed by hpoks 72.

By making the several sections of columns of denitemultiples of length, as measured by the height of the steps, and making the couplings and braces to iit interchangeably,

and providing lateral support from the building, and vertical support directly from the ground through the columns, the assembling of parts with the eye bolts 46 in proper location on the building, provides an eicient and secure and cheap fire escape Without requiring any special mechanical skill for its erection.

Having described my invention, what l l. A fire escape consisting of series of sectional supporting columns, cou plings for uniting the sections of said columns, and bases 3. In a fire escape a series ofsteps attached to and dependent from each other, in combination with supporting brackets attached to the upper step of the series, and provided with projections adapted to interlock with corresponding projections upon supporting clamps, substantially as described and set forth. r

4E. In a lire escape the supporting columns, contractible clamps on said columns provided With eyes adapted to receive and hold braces for stiffening an inclosing case, in combination with said braces and inclosing case, constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described. f

5. In a fire escape contractible clamps secured upon supporting columns and provided with eyes adapted to receive braces for supporting handrails, in combination with said braces and handrails constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a fire escape one or more pairs of supporting columns, contractible clamps secured on said columns and braces inserted in said clamps, in combination with a surrounding casing provided with horizontal channel iron braces, and provided with doors for ingress vand egress, and hinges, braces and fastenings therefor, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a ire escape the sectional supporting columns united by clamps and arranged in pairs in combination with said clamps and link plates resting on said clamps constructed and arranged to operate as set forth.

8. In a fire escape the combination of sectional columns arranged in pairs, contractible clamps arranged to unite the sections of each column and eye bolts adapted to secure, said columns to a building in combination with link plates adapted to connect the said columns in pairs to rest on said clamps and provided with pivotal supports for doors and attachments for door fastenings substantially as set forth.

FERDINAND JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

N. K. HoDGsoN, GEO. H. PIERCE. 

